2008.05.27 13:00 - Buddhababble

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That
afternoon, Genesis was the guardian. The comments are Pema's.

genesis Zhangsun: Hi Myoko!
Rajah Yalin: hi myo
Myoko Fhang: Hi Raja
genesis Zhangsun: So Rajah how do you find the PaB sessions?
Myoko Fhang: Sorry about my dealy….still a newbee
Rajah Yalin: its alright myo
Rajah Yalin: and from what i
Rajah Yalin: have done i find them to help me keep my mellow persona
genesis Zhangsun: are u engaged in the 9 second practice?
Rajah Yalin: yep
Myoko Fhang: So, if I get it right, you guys do 9 sec meditation every 15 minutes?
Rajah Yalin nods.
genesis Zhangsun: Thats right Myoko
Myoko Fhang: Cool. So whats the benefit compared to regular 2 x 45 min?
genesis Zhangsun: the idea is to integrate being into daily life
Rajah Yalin: and also that hours of meditation can be done daily
genesis Zhangsun: exactly
Myoko Fhang: I can see the benefits of doing that.

The conversation moved to various kinds of meditation.

genesis Zhangsun: Myoko are you engaged in a practice?
Myoko Fhang: Do you guys know this: http://www.mindfulnessdc.org/mindfulclock.html ?
Rajah Yalin: aside from play as being i also do longer periods of meditation around 3 times a day
genesis Zhangsun: can’t say I do but will check it out
genesis Zhangsun: oh cool Myoko thats great if you work on you computer
genesis Zhangsun: a nice reminder
Myoko Fhang: Sure. I am into quiet sitting ( anapana sati) mixed up with walking meditation and general mindfullness.
Rajah Yalin: ah walking meditation!
Myoko Fhang: CLock> you can set to go off every 15 min.
Rajah Yalin: i’ve gotten into jogging four days a week, and while doin so i’ve made it into a sort of ‘meditation’
Rajah Yalin: similar to walking meditation only running
Myoko Fhang: Jogging is great too. Kind of a natural meditation state.
Rajah Yalin: yep even without the focus on it
Rajah Yalin: I heard that it is impossible to be depressed while running
Myoko Fhang: Love activities where presence shows up naturally. Cooking does that to me.
Rajah Yalin: gardening for me
Myoko Fhang: …and I am trying to make computer tasks have the same flow.
Myoko Fhang: Would be nice to be in the flow wile programing…
genesis Zhangsun: yes I suppose it is nice to bring presence into work
genesis Zhangsun: would make it more relaxing
Myoko Fhang: Exactly. I’ve been trying to take notice of where and in
which situation my energy drains. Not suprisingly, the more mindfull I
am there less drained I become.
Myoko Fhang: So for me it’s a lot trying to stay as aware as possible.
genesis Zhangsun: yes I suppose that is what the 9 second practice is about as well
genesis Zhangsun: interestingly by stopping we are able to stay more present
genesis Zhangsun: the idea is to create a sense of a seamless all day meditation
Myoko Fhang: The japanese term Maka shikan ( vipassana) is often translated as “stopping and seeing”
genesis Zhangsun: oh interesting myoko and how do you use maka shikan in your practice?

Tara Farmer: and Myoko, how is it going for you?
Myoko Fhang: Fine, first time attending, second time in secondlife.
Myoko Fhang: Haven’t had the time to get a new face just yet.
Rajah Yalin: lol
Rajah Yalin: im comparing me and zorbs face :)
genesis Zhangsun: thats ok Myoko we all remember how that was lol
Tara Farmer: OMG I was so ugly at first
Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: hihi i have a earing ;)
Tara Farmer: My friend Lee, said, “hey you must be a newbie”
Rajah Yalin: i think i have that shirt too
genesis Zhangsun: actually Tara here is my fairy godmother
Rajah Yalin: HMM maybe not
Tara Farmer: yes in way
genesis Zhangsun: she picked me up and did her magic!
Myoko Fhang: I kind of like my urban chic outfit though. Make me feel like I am from New York
genesis Zhangsun: I was quite plain myself before
Rajah Yalin: when i first joined i had very long hair
genesis Zhangsun: yeah urban chic is a good choice
Tara Farmer: but now, you have made your own beauty genesis
Rajah Yalin: then i cut my hair a little bit, then cut it all off and i’ve looked this way since
genesis Zhangsun: I kind of like the idea of sticking with a default avatar
genesis Zhangsun: thanks Tara so sweet!
genesis Zhangsun: How is that for you Stim sticking with the default?
Stim Morane: I’m too clueless to do much about it yet
genesis Zhangsun: oh I thought it was a statement

From the conversation it was pretty clear that Rajah and Zorb must have looked quite similar.

Myoko Fhang: You grrrls are looking pretty amazing.
Tara Farmer: he he thanks Myoko
genesis Zhangsun: sort of like there is no self
Tara Farmer: yes, i guess sticking with the default is like no self
Tara Farmer: more like no eyes
Tara Farmer: LOL
genesis Zhangsun: I wonder if personalizing the default actual makes one more self obsessed
Rajah Yalin: sticking default is okay, but i think zorb has a pretty handsome look goin on myself
Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: hihi thank you Rajah, since you have the same ;)
Rajah Yalin: :P
Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: :)
genesis Zhangsun: I noticed myself when I first personalized that I became obsessed with my look
Tara Farmer: oh you guys!
Tara Farmer: yes i have a few diff looks, for diff moods
Tara Farmer: this is “Wraithful Red Tara”
Tara Farmer: LOL
genesis Zhangsun: another outlet for consumerism :)
Rajah Yalin: i tried to keep my avatar simple looking.. i’ve had this look for almost a year
genesis Zhangsun: but a fun one no doubt
genesis Zhangsun: it is very telling about people’s personalities
Tara Farmer: yes, but this outfit only cost me $1.50
Tara Farmer: LOL
Rajah Yalin: the only thing i really change is my facial hair is short sometimes, then sometimes long like now
genesis Zhangsun: yes that is a good deal Tara
genesis Zhangsun: and I aint complainin
Rajah Yalin: the picture in my profile is from like last july
Tara Farmer: So, Myoko, what about your practice?

Rajah maintained his PaB practice here in SL :-).

Rajah Yalin has a 9-second meditation about to come up in 5 minutes.
Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: hihi :)
Tara Farmer: I have been cheating
Tara Farmer: and just meditating in the mornings
Rajah Yalin: I cheat when im asleep
Myoko Fhang: I do quiet sitting mediatation 2-3 times daily + walking
meditation. And then general mindfullness every 15 min. Chanting in the
weekends, and getting into serving tea.
Tara Farmer: well, and at evening meds, when i can
genesis Zhangsun: oh yes I think any level of engagement is good Tara
Myoko Fhang: Oh….and renunciation.
genesis Zhangsun: Wow myoko that is wonderful
Tara Farmer: what is renunciation?
Tara Farmer: do you have a job Myoko?
Myoko Fhang: Letting things go.
Tara Farmer: :)
Rajah Yalin: myo, are you a tea addict too?
Myoko Fhang: Yep, but I am fortunate to work from home and be my own boss.
Tara Farmer: I am looking forward to meditating in France
Myoko Fhang: No time for girls or TV.
Tara Farmer: :)
genesis Zhangsun: LOL
Tara Farmer: Myoko that rocks
Myoko Fhang: Thanks.
genesis Zhangsun: so seems like we have quite a few people here in engaged in longer meditations
Tara Farmer: girls and t.v will rot your brain (said in Mom’s voice)
genesis Zhangsun: rajah or stim what do you think this brings to your 9 second practice?
Rajah Yalin: thats true
Myoko Fhang: Think about it, most eople spend 4 hours in front of the telly every day. I just reprioritized.
Rajah Yalin: i don’t even own a TV
genesis Zhangsun: me neither

It seems like not watching tv is wide spread in our group: I heard
similar comments from Storm and Dakini, and it applies to me too.

Rajah Yalin: gen, it does help keep the energy level up
Rajah Yalin: hi isen
genesis Zhangsun: it is a good point that often what we believe we don’t have time for we can in fact find time for
Rajah Yalin: /gasho
Stim Morane: Hi Isen!
Tara Farmer: ISEN
genesis Zhangsun: if we cleared out some other activities
genesis Zhangsun: Hi Isen!
Myoko Fhang: Gasho.
Tara Farmer: His Royal Heinie
Tara Farmer: :)
genesis Zhangsun: Thanks for coming
Isen Enzo: WOW
Rajah Yalin: excuse me i have a 9-second meditation to do
Isen Enzo: Look at all these avs!!
Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: Hey Isen :)

Indeed, it must have been quite a group when Isen walked in, seven
in total including him: Gen, Isen, Myoko, Rajah, Stim, Tara, Zorb.

Stim Morane: Sorry to subtract one, but I do need to go … be back later!
Tara Farmer: later stim
Rajah Yalin: okay stim, take care - namaste
Myoko Fhang: Bye stim
genesis Zhangsun: bye Stim a pleasure
Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: yes, see you stim
Rajah Yalin: that was a refreshing meditation my friends
genesis Zhangsun: a few words rajah?
genesis Zhangsun: about it?
Tara Farmer: Rajah, did reality speak to you
Rajah Yalin: well im back in the right state of mind
Rajah Yalin: get all that muck out of there
Tara Farmer: I wanna be bald
Isen Enzo: let it rip!
Tara Farmer: woot!
Rajah Yalin gasps.
Myoko Fhang: Hahhaha
genesis Zhangsun: yes Tara that is awesome!
Tara Farmer: ha ha
Rajah Yalin: i see a new fad coming on
Tara Farmer: SWEET!
Isen Enzo: Shiners!!
Isen Enzo: Now we need little carz!
Tara Farmer: Myoko, that hair is so last year!
Tara Farmer: LOL
Rajah Yalin: myoko if you want me to, i can give you something so you will look good
Myoko Fhang: Sure, hit me!
Rajah Yalin: try those out
Tara Farmer: I can think better now that i am bald
Rajah Yalin snickers to self.
Myoko Fhang: Thanks!

Well, those of us not present there can only guess what happened to fuel the good cheer :-).

Isen Enzo: I’m not bald…. I shave my head….
Tara Farmer: reality can seep in through osmosis
Tara Farmer: Isen, we know
Tara Farmer: :)
Rajah Yalin: i shave my head too isen
Rajah Yalin: i pluck each hair out individually
Myoko Fhang: I feel so much better now!
Tara Farmer: OUCH!
Rajah Yalin: it keeps hair from growing back often
genesis Zhangsun: wow Myoko sexy
Isen Enzo: brb
Isen Enzo: lattes..
Rajah Yalin: im going to make tea
Tara Farmer: I don’t like it
Tara Farmer: you need this
Myoko Fhang: Why not. I feel so much more intelectual now.
Rajah Yalin: he was supposed to look like me
genesis Zhangsun: oh watch out Tara is bringing out her magic wand
Rajah Yalin: that was the hope anyways
Rajah Yalin: :P
Myoko Fhang: Oohhhh…thanks tara
Tara Farmer: he he
Tara Farmer: hell yeah
Myoko Fhang: Sweeeet!
genesis Zhangsun: nice
Rajah Yalin: :O
Tara Farmer: totally zen
Myoko Fhang: Not sure if I can leave the room with this on!
Rajah Yalin: i think its good feng shui
Tara Farmer: and, you can ward off enemies, simply by bending over

Genesis, as the main guardian of the afternoon, made another attemption to focus on the 9-sec practice.

genesis Zhangsun: So Rajah may I ask you how do you think your longer meditation informs your 9 second practice?
Rajah Yalin: Hmmm…
Rajah Yalin: thats a question i need a cup of tea for, brb
genesis Zhangsun: sure me too!
Tara Farmer: you know, Genesis, I also find it difficult to put my practice into words for others
Tara Farmer: it’s like love, talking about it does not do it justice
Tara Farmer: only to feel it
Tara Farmer: how can you explain truly, a feeling?
genesis Zhangsun: yes that is very true Tara
genesis Zhangsun: it is difficult to do it justice
genesis Zhangsun: sometimes talking about it though makes you understand something about it that you didn’t before
genesis Zhangsun: or helps someone else understand
Tara Farmer: I agree
genesis Zhangsun: something about themselves
genesis Zhangsun: their practice
genesis Zhangsun: this happened to me the other day
genesis Zhangsun: with Cal another guardian
genesis Zhangsun: we were trying to describe the undescribable but we both understand
genesis Zhangsun: somehow between the lines
genesis Zhangsun: and that feeling of understanding that we both knew what the other meant
genesis Zhangsun: was so powerful
genesis Zhangsun: made us feel connected

Tara Farmer: I agree
Tara Farmer: I have felt this way before
Tara Farmer: here and in real life
Tara Farmer: as it were
Tara Farmer: it’s like you are both coming to the same conclusion, but from diff directions
Tara Farmer: which is what the buddha says, right isen?
Myoko Fhang: be right back….
Tara Farmer: when he returns, i will ask
Rajah Yalin: i’ve returned
Rajah Yalin: but the water is still boiling
Isen Enzo: Sorry to be gone so long..
Isen Enzo: but I’m here now…
Isen Enzo: lol
Tara Farmer: isen, can you answer my question please with some buddha babble
Isen Enzo: sure- what’s the Q?
Isen Enzo: I got lots o buddhababble..
Tara Farmer: the buddha says we all will come to the same conclusion from diff directions right?
genesis Zhangsun: lol
Isen Enzo: well..
Isen Enzo: kinda
Isen Enzo: brb
Tara Farmer: well please correct me
Isen Enzo: geez
Isen Enzo: brb
Tara Farmer: ha ha
Tara Farmer: anyway, Isen is very good at explaining buddha
Tara Farmer: I am not
genesis Zhangsun: I would love to hear it
Tara Farmer: is Playing at Being directly or indirectly related to buddhism
Tara Farmer: genesis?
genesis Zhangsun: I would say indirectly
Rajah Yalin: some people who practice it are not buddhist

Two conversations kept interweaving, about PaB being broader than
Buddhism, and about how to practice Buddhism, but both are clearly
compatible.

Isen Enzo: The Buddha was a great teacher!!
Isen Enzo: He explained the same thing many, many different. was…..
Isen Enzo: for many many different people…
genesis Zhangsun: and the concept of being I think is not necessarily
buddhist in nature though emptiness in some ways may get close to the
idea
Isen Enzo: everyone understands differently…
Tara Farmer: yes, Isen, that is what I was saying, in a round about way
Isen Enzo: yes.
Isen Enzo: you’re right!!
Tara Farmer: yay!
genesis Zhangsun: yes I think this is why PaB is not directly related to buddhism
genesis Zhangsun: because that would say that to get to it, to being is through one route in a sense
Tara Farmer: i understand
genesis Zhangsun: when you can arrive to it from most all religious or nonreligious backgrounds
Isen Enzo: one of the ways I describe my practice is with a little explination of a shift in attitude….
Rajah Yalin nods.
Tara Farmer: yes, Buddhism goes with everything
Isen Enzo: as an example, difficult people are regarded as “practice opportunities”…
Tara Farmer: like an old pair of socks
Tara Farmer: LOL
genesis Zhangsun: every crisis an opportunity to practice
Isen Enzo: otherwise they would be regarded as a pain in the $%&
Tara Farmer: ha ha isen
Tara Farmer: I meet lots of “practice opps” everyday
Isen Enzo: i have a great work practice in retail sales at the bookstore…
Isen Enzo: yes, Tara, me too…
genesis Zhangsun: oh yes they are everywhere
Isen Enzo: It’s a wonderful opportunity..
Isen Enzo: so thankful…

Both RL and SL don’t lack in practice opportunities, was the consensus.

Tara Farmer: so, it is wrong to want to kill them, right?
Isen Enzo: Boddhisatva vows …
Isen Enzo: We cannot control our desires, but we can control our actions…..
Tara Farmer: thank goodness
Rajah Yalin: well
Isen Enzo: We might WANT to kill them…..
Isen Enzo: but…
genesis Zhangsun: yes so you can want to kill them Tara just don’t do it! :)
Isen Enzo: nonononon
genesis Zhangsun: unless they are real SOBS
genesis Zhangsun: LOL
Myoko Fhang: Sice I do not have a girlfriend, I try to surround myself
with at least a couple of difficult persons. Very rewarding.
Tara Farmer: ha ha
Tara Farmer makes a list….
genesis Zhangsun: LOL
Tara Farmer: ha ha myoko
Rajah Yalin: i think that you can control your desires
Isen Enzo: SL is wonderful for me as I live in a small community with little opportunity for buddhababble…
Rajah Yalin: but it is easier said than done
genesis Zhangsun: yes intimate relationships are actually the most challenging area I find in practicing
Isen Enzo: SL expands my dharmic interactions…
Tara Farmer: thats great isen
Isen Enzo: I also get to wear a practice robe all the time!!
Isen Enzo: look snazzy..
Rajah Yalin: /laugh
Tara Farmer: Zorb will get plenty of practice opps too, with me :)
Rajah Yalin: :O
Isen Enzo: Tara is the goddess of compassion….
Zorbeklegras Rodenberger smiles
Isen Enzo: see….
Tara Farmer: so I am supposed to put up with these SOB’s?
Isen Enzo: yup
Tara Farmer: what the hell did I do to buddha to deserve that?
Tara Farmer: :)
genesis Zhangsun: yes because they are the people you love
Isen Enzo: whap them upside the head with compassion!!
genesis Zhangsun: :)
Rajah Yalin nods
Tara Farmer: ha ha
Tara Farmer: I do love them, otherwise, I would not care

Rajah Yalin: have any of you met hiro? he is from tibet
Isen Enzo: I don’t think so
genesis Zhangsun: No I have not met him here in SL?
Isen Enzo: Vajrayana?
genesis Zhangsun: does he attend the PaB?
Rajah Yalin: he was here the other night
Isen Enzo: ah
genesis Zhangsun: sounds interesting
Rajah Yalin: i met him in tibet in 2002 and we kept in contact -
sometime last year i showed him SL and he comes on every now and then
genesis Zhangsun: what did he talk about?
Rajah Yalin: he didn’t say much actually
genesis Zhangsun: LOL
Myoko Fhang: Right speech….
genesis Zhangsun: yes sometimes silence is more powerful than words
Rajah Yalin nods.
Rajah Yalin: he doesnt say much in person either
Rajah Yalin: a RL monk
genesis Zhangsun: interesting how you can sense things about people in SL
genesis Zhangsun: even when they don’t say anything
Rajah Yalin: i met him in RL
genesis Zhangsun: oh yes sorry
Rajah Yalin: in lhasa
genesis Zhangsun: well still I find true often
Rajah Yalin: about 6 years ago, and i showed him SL about a year ago
Rajah Yalin: he was at the sangha last night
Myoko Fhang: Where’s you sangha?
Rajah Yalin: i mean here
Myoko Fhang: Ah.
Myoko Fhang: When do you guys meet up?
Rajah Yalin: i live all the way in vanuatu

I’m glad to see that I was not the only one who had no idea where Vanuatu is located.

genesis Zhangsun: where is that rajah?
Rajah Yalin: he comes here about once a year
Isen Enzo: brb
Rajah Yalin: its in the south pacific east of australia
genesis Zhangsun: and are you a tibetan buddhist Rajah?
Myoko Fhang: Do you live there permanently, or traveling?
Rajah Yalin: i was born and raised here, spent 5 years in india
Rajah Yalin: and I dont know what branch of buddhist i am, other than simply buddhist
Myoko Fhang: I am just buddhist too…
genesis Zhangsun: how did you come to your practice rajah?
Rajah Yalin: insanity
Myoko Fhang: Have a lot of friends in different schools I play with….
genesis Zhangsun: lol honest :)
Myoko Fhang: The best dharama gate.
genesis Zhangsun: and now how do you feel less insane or more insane?
Rajah Yalin: less by far
Myoko Fhang: Got to go….see you soon. Thanks for the chat.
Rajah Yalin: take care myo - Namaste
genesis Zhangsun: Take care myoko thanks for joining us
genesis Zhangsun: namaste
genesis Zhangsun: I better get going myself
Rajah Yalin: okay gen, take care
Rajah Yalin: Namaste
genesis Zhangsun: Thanks for coming
genesis Zhangsun: Hope to see you soon
Rajah Yalin: it was good to be here
Rajah Yalin: i’ll see you tonight at the sangha and next PaB if your here
genesis Zhangsun: ok!
Rajah Yalin: :)
genesis Zhangsun: namaste
Rajah Yalin: Namaste